Sectional sheating.



JAMES C. NEEM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK L.V

CRANFORD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

sncTIoNAL SHEATHING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 191%.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs C. MEEM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional Sheathing, of which the following is a specification.

In making excavations for permanent constructions of various kinds and for other purposes, it is commonly necessary to provide temporary supports for the sides of the excavation, particularly where the excavation is near the foundation of buildings or in loose or sandy soil. l

The general objectof this invention is to provide a method and form of construction of a temporary character for supporting the side walls, which will be economical in cost of material and in cost of erection, While likewise obtaining a construction which will aord maximum strength and occupy coinparatively small space, and may if desired be used permanently.

vIn making excavations heretofore, itha been common to provide heavy wooden planking or metal sheathing adjoining each other and vertically placed; and as'the excavation proceeds, these planks are driven downwardly endwise into the soil, the planking being braced by cross stays when necessary. The principal objection to this method is that when the sheathing is driven downwardly, it commonly strikes many points where it is impossible to drive the sheathing, due to stones, and the like, so that it is impossible to force parts of the sheathing along with the rest, This results in retarding the work until the excavation has proceeded far enough to remove theobstructions. This diliiculty also is likely to cause the entire sheathing to be loosened and have less strength not onlyin particular places, but in the construction as a whole. where excavations have to be made under the planking, there is no opportunity to afterward fill in back of the planking so as toV give a solidsupport for the soil. Such construction is also expensive in the material used as well as in the amount of labor required. i

In accordance with my invention, I utilize rolled steel strips of special shape for retaining the soil in place and I place these cross-wise to the direction in which the exea- Also vating proceeds. I also provide suitably spaced supporting posts alined in the direction in which the excavating proceeds for retaining the strips in position. My improved method and Vform of construction will be understood from the following description.

Figure l is a vertical cross section of a trench and construction illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3

`is a perspective view of a modified form of supporting strip; Fig. l is a similar view of another modication, and Fig. 5 is a similar View of my preferred form shown in Figs. l and 2.

Referring to Figs. l and 2 the posts or rangers 6 of wood or other suitable material are first placed in position vertically, and second by bracing atthe top in any suitable way, such as bv horizontal rangers 7 and cross pieces 8. The lower ends are braced or sunk into the soil sufliciently and hold them in place. These verticall rangers 6 are spaced a suitable distance apart and in planes which are tofform the boundaries of the excavation. The location of these posts in their planes may be selected as desired. As the excavating proceeds between the planes of the posts, the soil is removed to a` slight degree back of their planes sufiiciently to permit'the endwise insertion of the strips 9 preferably of cold rolled steel. In the form shown in Figs. l, 2 and 5, the strips have a rounded central portion 10, straight vertical portions 11, 11 and flanged outer portions 12, 12 extending in opposite directions from the straight portions l1, 11. It will be seen that the shape of these strips is such that they may be rolled from sheet steel in one rolling operation'. These strips are placed with the convex surface of the rounded portions 10 against the back of posts 6 and with the flange 12 uppermost between flanges l2, 12 ot adjoining strips, the flange 12 serving as a convenient guide for the iilling. As the excavation proceeds these strips are'successively inserted, one beneath the other, although in some instances two or more may be inserted at a time. l/Vhen the soil is such that it cannot be excavated greatly in advance of the sheathing, a pair oit posts 6, G may be used as shown in Fig. 2, and alternately braced and driven. Thus the posts 6 may be loosened, as by removing its wedges 13 and as the horizontal sheathing strips 9 are placed, the loose posts are driven over them to hold the strips in place. The loose posts are then braced or tightened as by vwedges 13, leaving the posts 6 tree to lbe loosened and driven on, and driven or slid downwardly alfter placing the next strip 9. l/Vhen `the length of the sliding posts has been exceeded, permanent vertical rangers 14 are set in place and braced inthe positions previously occupied `by the posts G,

6', or alongside of them, leaving the sliding posts freefto be moved downwardly.

Where the length of the excavation exceeds the length of the strips, another section of strips are built up and similarly supported, the ends of adjoining strips overlapping and fitting `into each other as indicated at l5 in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that the strips are-of comparatively light weight, and easily handled and maybe conveniently placed in `position and also occupy small space requiring little extral excavating. Their shape is also such as to :givegreat strength and rigidity `in a direction yto vresist longitudinally 'the -pressure between vertical rangers, `as fwell as to resist :pressure 'in a vertical direction. Theirl shape is also such as to be held firmly in po sition `by the filling in lback: of' and between the strips. Where kgreater longitudinal resistance :may be required, it may be gained by increasing the ratio oi the depth of `the' rounded portion 10 `to its span. The preferred form shown in Figs. 1,2 and 5 is especially adapted to permit the `lillingito be facilitated by tamping filling material through the horizontal space between two adjacent strips. The shape of my improved sheathing is also such as to avoid cutting `into the unexcavated soil or unnecessarily loosening or otherwise disturbing such soil. Also their shape is such as to occupy small storage space and small space during transportation, being easily stacked by litting one Vwithin the other.

used giving great strength and rigidity in resisting the pressure of the side walls and of a character to be firmly held in place by the soil.

The structure is adapted to be removed in case of necessity when .the excavation is filled in, and without disturbing the side walls of the embankment except at the lowermost parts; the strips being successively removed beginning with the lowest ones and removing them gradually just above the bottom of the excavation as Athe filling Vin .proceeds.

1t also is adapted to be used adjacent to structures or lto building foundations and the like, where the eventual rotting out of temporary sheathing would do Apermanent injury.

l. The method of excavating and support ing side walls which `consists in placing pairs of vertical posts spaced apart at intervals from .each Aother along 'the line ofthe side wall as the excavation proceeds, and inserting metal strips back of said posts ,horizontally, said posts of each pair being driven alternately, said strips having cylindrically convex sides bearing against theposts and being inserted below each other as the excavation proceeds.

2. The method of excavating and supporting side walls which'consists in placing vertical vposts in 'pairs spaced apart from :each other at intervals along the Vline oftheside wall as theeXcav-ation proceeds, .successively inserting horizontal strips `spaced :apart below each-other and behind said posts as 4the excavation proceeds, and alternately loosening and driving said "verticalwposts .as `the said stri-ps are linserted and :as the excavation proceeds, and tamping lling 4material behind said strips through the horizontal spaces between said strips.

3. Thermethod .of temporarily supporting a side wall when excavating beside it which consists Yin `placing braced vertical posts :in pairs at intervals along the line'ot said wall, slidably engaging horizontal strips below one another .behind said posts, as the excavation proceeds, and loosening the bracing -ifor said posts and driving them down alternately as the excavation proceeds.

l. A temporary support `for side walls comprising vertical posts spaced -gapart and along the .line of the wall, and horizontal strips of sheet'metal one below another and backofsaid posts, each of saidstripshaving a cylindrically convex surface of longitudi-f nal elements, against said posts. f

'5. d temporary support for side walls comprising vertical posts spaced apartl and along the line of the avall, 'and horizontal strips ofsh'eet meta-l one below another and back of said-posts, Veach of said strips hav# ing a cylindrically convex surface of longitudinal elements against said posts and a flange at the edge of each said strip.

6. A temporary support for side walls comprising vertical posts spaced apart and along the line of the wall, and horizontal strips of sheet metal one below another and back of' said posts, each of said strips having a cylindrically convex surface of longitudinal elements against said posts and an upwardly and outwardly extending flange at the top edge of each said strips.

8. A temporary support for side walls comprising vertical posts spaced apart and along the line of the wall, and horizontal strips of sheet metal one below another and back of said posts, each of said strips having Copies of this patent may be obtained for a cylindrically convex surface of longitudinal elements against said posts, an outwardly and upwardly extending flange at the top edge of each said strip, and a downwardly and inwardly extending flange at the lower edge of each said strip.

9. A temporary support for side walls comprising vertical posts spaced apart and along the line of the wall, and horizontal strips of sheet metal one below another and back of said posts, each of said strips having a central cylindrical convex portion of longitudinal elements against said posts, vertically extending portions abore and below said central portion, an upwardly and outwardly extending flange at the top, and a downwardly and inwardly extending flange at the bottom.

l0, A rolled metal section for sheathing trenches or excavations, said section having a single median convex web and an npwardly and outwardly extending flange at the top and a downwardly and inwardly eX- tending flange at the bottom.

JAMES C. MEEM.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents,

Washington, IJ. C. 

